The bidirectional association between incidence of depression and obesity in Brazilian graduates (CUME study): a 6-year prospective study

To evaluate the bidirectional relationship between the incidence of depression and obesity in Brazilian graduates. This 6-year longitudinal follow-up study included 3,426 participants from the CUME study in assessing the incidence of obesity and 3,414 participants in assessing the incidence of depression. Risk ratios were estimated and the interaction by sex was tested using the multiplicative method. After an average follow-up of 2.13 years, 387 incident cases of depression and 216 cases of obesity were identified. When stratified by sex, women with an initial diagnosis of depression were at increased risk of developing obesity over time (HR: 2.14; 95% CI: 1.47 − 3.11). The association between initial obesity and incidence of depression was also positive, but only for men (HR: 1.82; 95% CI 1.05 − 3.16). As conclusion, there is bidirectional association for incidence of depression and obesity over time and the risks of developing these diseases are associated differently by sex.